April 18, 2010

Getting Cinemate: The Three-Act Paradigm (Illustration)

Let us discuss the three-act paradigm with the example of Larry and Andy Wachowski’s The Matrix (1999). The plot can be outlined as: “A computer hacker learns about the true nature of his reality, and that life on Earth may be just an elaborate facade created by a malevolent cyber-intelligence - the Matrix, for placating us while our life essence is "farmed" to fuel its campaign of domination in the "real" world. He joins a group of rebels in their struggle to overthrow the Matrix.” (courtesy IMDB)

The Principal Characters and their respective Dramatic Needs are:

Neo, the Protagonist: To find out what is ‘wrong’ with him.

Morpheus: To find and train ‘the One’.

Trinity: To help Morpheus; also she is personally interested in Neo.

Agent Smith, the Antagonist: To prevent Neo, Morpheus and Trinity in achieving their dramatic needs.

Act I (page 1 to 29): Setting up of the dramatic premise and introduction of the main characters, esp. the strange and mysterious world of Neo. We do not understand too many things at this stage, but are constantly hooked to this thrilling cat-and-mouse game. The last part of this Act is Neo’s first meeting with Morpheus. Neo takes the red pill and decides to join Morpheus. This event is clearly the Plot Point I – leading the story into the next act.

Act II (page 29 to 92): This Act poses obstacles in the dramatic journey of our protagonist. Neo would not realize himself too easily- there are battles, within and without to be fought. This Act can be divided into two halves.

Part I: Neo is informed and trained. This part also includes the Sentinal attack on the ship, revelation to Neo about the earlier failures of Morpheus in finding the One, and Neo’s regret on his decision to join them. Neo is full of self-doubt and the Oracle does not help him much either. She says – if he does not believe, he definitely is not the One.

Part II: The Agents attack. Morpheus is caught in his attempt to save Neo. Neo decides to go back to save Morpheus – another active decision by Neo, the Plot Point II.

Act III (page 92 to 120): Neo and Trinity manage to save Morpheus, but Neo is trapped. An elaborate fight sequence follows. Finally, when Smith has almost killed him, Neo ‘realizes’ and returns back successfully.

The entire screenplay is Neo’s journey. His need to know what is wrong with him begins the journey, Morpheus’ need to find the ‘One’ propels it and Trinity’s love culminates it. Neo begins as a passive, confused, reluctant protagonist, but both Plot Points and the End are made possible only by his active action – eventually making him the all-powerful. By the end, Trinity and Morpheus, who once looked stronger than Neo, are limited to play supporting roles. Agent Smith fails in his attempts. The film ends with Neo’s declaration that he has ‘decided to make a few changes’ and then he ‘flies faster than a speeding bullet.’

It is indeed amazing that a film that is so visual and technically advanced has, at its core, a story well-written – words on paper, following the classical paradigm of storytelling, with the Acts and Plot Points at mathematically exact positions. Cinema, definitely, is as much a craft, as an art.

P.S. I started the 'Must Watch' recommendations in September 2010. Before that I had watched several movies that must feature in this list. But in order to save myself from the useless and predictable exercise of recommending all great movies, I decided to follow a simple eligibility criterion: The movies recommended here would be among those I watched or re-watched since September 2010. So please do not be surprised if 'Cinema Paradiso' or 'Apocalypse Now' (which are, in my opinion, definite Must Watch) do not feature in here. They will find a place in the list the day I re-watch them.